Shoe press



y 1965. H. PHILLIPS ETAL 3,184,770

SHOE PRESS Filed Nov. 9, 1962 5 Shee .[nvanforq liar PIn'IIi 11ml? Ache/0; Raymondxtflel/zla By t/zeir'flttq'rney May'25, 1965 H. PHILLIPS ETAL SHOE PRESS Filed Nov. 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1965 H. PHILLIPS E-TAL 3,184,770

SHOE PRESS Filed Nov. 9, 1962 5 Sheets-CS eet 5 May 25, 1965 H. PHILLIPS ETAL 3,184,770

SHOE PRESS Filed Nov. 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 236,557 11 Claims. (Cl. 12-33) This application is a continuationdn-part of our application Serial No. 195,152, filed May 16, 1962 and now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to machines for operating on shoes, and has particular reference to a machine for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine which may be used for sole laying, pressure leveling, or sole attaching, in which a lasted shoe and outsole are placed bottom down on a pad box, which is then moved upwardly .until the shoe engages heel and toe abutments, and pressure is then applied to the sole bottom.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type described having automatically actuated timing means for releasing the pressure and ejecting the shoe after a predetermined time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ma chine of the type described in which means is provided to prevent the operation of the pressure applying means if the timing means is inoperative.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type described in which a shoe kick-oh" means is actuated by the downward movement of the pressure pad, with means preventing actuation of the kick-off means until completion of the operation of the timing means.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof.

'In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the machine of FIG. 1 as seen from the front;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the pneumatic control circuit of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of a portion of the machine of FIG. 1, illustrating a modified form of kickoff actuation means; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a modified form of pneumatic control circuit.

Referring to FIGS. 14 there is illustrated a machine comprising a base 12 which supports a pad box 14 carrying a pad 16 of suitable composition. The box 14 is centrally mounted by pivot 18 on a shaft 2%, which is disposed for vertical movement Within a suitable bushing 22. in the base, and for this purpose the lower end of the shaft 20 is connected to the piston P1 of pneumatic cylinder C1.

To resist the upward pressure applied to the shoe by the pad box 16, abutments 24 and 26 are disposed above the pad box on a cross arm 28 which is supported on a forwardly extending head 3t) disposed on an upstanding machine post 32. The abutments 24 and 26 are positionable to engage the toe portion and heel cone respectively of a lasted shoe when said shoe is moved upwardly by the pad box.

To remove the shoe from the pad box after the desired operation has been completed, a kick-0d arm 34 is pivotally mounted at one end 36 to the machine head, with the other end 38 being adapted to swing through a suitable arc to push the shoe from the pad box into a receptacle 40. For this purpose a pneumatic cylinder C2 is connected to the machine head with the piston rod P2 thereof being secured to the arm 34. The arm 34 is normally maintained in the retracted position (as shown in FIG. 1) by means of a spring 42.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the operation of the machine is controlled by means of a valve V1 having treadle actuated means 52 for shifting the valve to a first position and pressure actuated means 54 for shifting the valve to a second position, a valve V2 having an actuating plunger 44- operated by vertical movement of the pad box in a manner to appear hereinafter, a manual emergency relief valve V3 and certain other automatically actuated valves to be described. When the machine is in condition for operation, air pressure is available at the supply line S, and the treadle valve V1 is in the position illustrated so that air pressure is available through said valve to pneumatic timing mechanism Tl which is adapted to actuate valve V4 through a suitable linkage 46 in a manner to be described. The pneumatic timing mechanism includes a chamber 48 connected to valve VI through a restriction R1 and parallel check valve K1 and a piston 49 in the chamber connected to the linkage so that when air pressure is admitted to the chamber through valve V1 the linkage 46 maintains the valve V4 in the position shown, so that the line from the valve V4 to the cylinder Oil is closed. The illustrated position of valve V1 also admits air to mechanically actuated kick-off valve V2, which is at this time in the closed condition, and connects cylinder C1 to exhaust.

To operate the machine, the operator depresses treadle 50, which shifts valve V1 to the opposite position thereby:

(l) Admitting air, through sequence valve V5 and quick exhaust valve V6 to cylinder C1 to cause the pad box to move upwardly until the shoe contacts the abutments 24 and 26, and

(2) Opens the chamber of the timing mechanism T1 to exhaust through the restriction R1, so that air in the chamber passes out through valve Vi. over a predetermined period of time. I

The upward movement of the pad box 14 releases plunger 44 permitting valve V2 to shift to the opposite position so that the cylinder C2 is connected to valve V1, to permit subsequent actuation of piston P2, as will appear hereinafter.

When the pressure in the timing mechanism has reached a sufficiently low level the piston or bellows causes linkage 46 to move valve V4 to the opposite position thereby connecting the air supply from valve V1 to the pressure actuated means 54 of valve V1 to cause valve V1 to shift back to its original position, whereby:

(1) Cylinder C1 is connected to exhaust through valve V1, and

(2) Valve V2 is connected to supply pressure,

(3) Pressure is again applied to the chamber 48 to return valve V4 to its original position.

The lowering of pressure in the line to cylinder C1 causes quick exhaust valve V6 to shift to the opposite position, so that the air from cylinder Cl exhausts directly to atmosphere, thereby permitting piston Pi and the pad box to start moving downwardly immediately. However, the air entering cylinder C2 passes through adjustable restriction R2, hence when sufficient air has entered cylinder C2 to actuate kick-off arm 34, the pressure has been released from the shoe by the exhausting of cylinder C1 to permit the shoe to be pushed into rcceptable 40 by the arm 34.

As the pad box nears the bottom of its downward movement it again depresses plunger 44, shifting valve V2 back to its original position to open cylinder C2 to exhaust, to permit spring 42 to return arm 34 to its original to valve V2 is open to exhaust through valve V1. Hence,

during the pressing portion of the-machine cycle, the kick-elf cylinder C2 is open to exhaust to eliminate. any possibility of its accidental operation, due to air leakage or inadvertent operation of the plunger 44, while the shoe is moving upwardly or whilev it is under. pressure;

The sequence valve V is normally closed, and is open to admit pressure to the main cylinder Cll only if there is sufficient pressure in the timing mechanism chamber to hold valve V4 closed. If no pressure is present in the chamber, the valve V4 is maintained in the position opposite to that shown in the drawing, so that the sequence valve V5 is connected directly to the pressure actuated mechanism 54 of valve Vl. Hence, in preparing the machine for operation, if the treadle has inadvertently been depressed before the air supply is turned on, the cylinder Cll will not be energized when pressure is applied to the machine, since the sequence valve V5 and timing valve V4- are closed. Instead, the applied pressure will pass through valve V4 directly to the air actuating mechanism of main valve V1 to shift valve 1V1 back to the position illustrated in.

the drawing, so that the supply line to the sequence'valve V5 and valve V4 is shut oif, and pressure is admitted to the timing valve to prepare the machine for operation.

Another safety feature is the provision of the emergency relief valve V3 connected between the air supply and the valve V4. machine, ifrthe operator observes that the shoe is not positioned properly, he may depress plunger 56 to actuate the emergency valve V3 which admits airthrough valve V4 to the air piston of the main valve V1, returning said va-lveVl to the, original position and releasing the pres: sure from the cylinder C1 in the manner previously described. 7

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of thedrawing there is illustrated certain modifications of the machine ill within the scope of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated alternate means for actuating the kick-off mechanism, comprising a kick-off operating valve V22 and a valve' operating member 6t! disposed on the pad box 16. 'The valve V22 is positioned in relation to the pad box so that the actuating plunger 62 of the valve is depressed by the member 60 as the pad box moves downwardly,. and is then released when the pad box reaches the bottom of its travel, to actuate valve 22 in a manner to appear hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a control,

circuit having certain modifications within the scope of the invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the opera-' tion of the machine is controlled by means of a treadle operated pilot valve IVll, the previously mentioned kicktion shown. In this position, the quick release valve V26 However,

After the treadle is depressed, to operate the position. The machine is then ready for the next opera- .7

Cir

r a is connected through the timing valve V2 to the emergency valve V23 for a purpose-to appear hereinafter. Pressure is also available through valve V21 to kick-oft cylinder control valve V22, which is normally closed;

The operation of the device, when actuated by depression of the treadle, is as follows:

Pilotvalve PVl, when shifted by the treadle, admits pressure to the actuator-6 i of valve V21 causing it to.

shift to the oppositeposition, whereby:

.(a) Pressure is applied to the actuator. 68 of valve V25, causing it to shift to admit pressure to main cylinder Cl 7 to move the pad box upwardly;

r (b) Pneumatic timingchamber T21 is opened to exhaust allowing pressure to bleed therefrom through asuitable restriction R21; and

(c) Opens to exhaust the kick-off valve V22 for a pur pose now to be described. Referring to FIG. 4 it is seen that the actuating plunger 62 will be depressed by the cam block 69 not only when the pad box is descend ing but also as it rises. However it is not desired that the kick-off arm be actuated as the pad box isvrising, hence the pressure to valve V22 is shut off in the manner pre-' viously described when the pressure is admitted to the cylinder CL p g It will be noted that operation of'pilot valve PVl also applies supply pressure through emergency release valve V23 to the timing'valve V24. The pressure 50, applied remains locked in this portion of the system, by means of check valve K1, even after the treadle isreleased, to

maintain pressure on actuator 64 until subsequent shifting of timing valve V24 as will, now be described. As the pressure exhausts fromthe timing chamber T21 through therestrictionRZl the pressure atfactuator as ofvalve gradually drops, and eventually reaches a value'such that the'pressure at the opposite actuator 79 (which is of,

smaller area than actuator es is suflicient to shift the timing valve to the opposite position. 7 The pressure at the actuator 64 of valve V21, is thereby released to ex- 7 haust, permitting valve V21Zto= return to its original position which: 7 7

(a) Opens to exhaust the line to valveV26, and its actuator 68, so that the pressure in cylinderCl, in acting on actuator 79 of valve V26. causes valve V26 to return to its original position which opens the cylinder Cl directly to exhaust. 1

(b) Admits'pressure to valve V22 so that as the piston of cylinder Cl and the pad box move downwardly, the member 60 momentarily depresses actuatingplunger 62 of valve V22, admitting air, through restriction R2 to therkick-olf cylinder. C2,,to eject the shoe from the pad boxvin the manner previously described. As the pad box approaches itslowermost position, the plunger 62 is released, so that the cylinder C2 .is, opened to exhaust and the kick-01f arm can return to its original position.

(0) Admits pressure to the timing chamberTZl, which shifts valve V24 back to its. original position.

The machine is now ready for another cycle of operation. a

The pressure in the line to actuator 64 of valve V21 may also be released by manually depressing the actuator 72 of emergency valve V23, which releases the pressure in cylinder C1 in the manner previously described.

In the event that treadle valve PV-1 is actuated when there is no pressure in timing chamber T21 (due, to leakage or otherreason) the pressure in actuator 76, in the absence of pressure on actuator 66' causes valve V24 to shift toopen to exhaust the line to the actuator 64 of valve V21, sothat valve V21 .does not shift, and the cylinder C1 is not pressurized; In other words, unless the timing means is operative to release the pressure in cylinder C1 after a predetermined timegpressure cannot be applied to the cylinder.

If the treadle PV-l is for some reason left open-when the machineis in an inactive condition, and air is'then applied to the machine, the valve V24 will be shifted to the opposite position in the manner previously described so that the cylinder C1 is not pressurized.

Since certain obvious modifications may be made in the device without departing from the scope of the inven tion, it is intended that all matter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Although the invention has been described herein as applied to a sole attaching machine, it Wiil be understood that such description is only by Way of example, since the features of the invention may be applied to many other types of devices in which pressure is to be applied to an article.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a sole press, a main piston for moving a pad box from a rest position to apply pressure to a shoe, an ejector piston for actuating shoe ejecting means, operatorcontrolled means for actuating the main piston, means responsive to actuation of the main piston to open valve means to the ejecting piston, means for thereafter releasing the pressure from the main piston, means actuated upon release of pressure from the main piston to apply pressure through the valve means to actuate said ejecting piston, and means responsive to the return of the pad box to the rest position to close said valve means.

2. A sole press for applying pressure to the sole of a shoe on a last comprising a pad box movable heightwise of the shoe to apply pressure to the shoe sole, means actuating the pad box to a pressing position, means for thereafter retracting the pad box to terminate the pressing operation; ejecting means for thereafter removing the shoe from the pad box, a fluid operated piston for the ejecting means, a valve for connecting said ejecting piston to a source of fluid pressure at the end of the pressing operation, and means for restricting the flow of pressure fluid to said piston to cause said ejecting means to act on the shoe after the pad box has been retracted of sole pressing position.

3. A sole press for applying pressure to the sole of a shoe on a last comprising a pad box, a pad box operating piston for pressing the pad box against the sole, ejecting means for removing the shoe from the pad box after the sole pressing operation is completed, a main valve, timing means, and an ejector valve, operator controlled means for actuating said pad box operating piston and starting said timing means substantially simultaneously, means responsive to the movement of the pad box to a sole pressing position to open said ejector valve, means responsive to the completion of the cycle of the timing means to release said piston and actuate said ejecting means through said open ejector valve, and means responsive to subsequent movement of the pad box away from the pressing position to close said ejector valve.

4. A machine for applying pressure to an article, said machine having control means adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said control means comprising a main pressure applying cylinder, a timing mechanism comprising a timing valve and a pressure chamber for shifting said timing valve between first and second positions, a main valve, operator controlled means for shifting said main valve from a first position to a second position and pressure responsive means for shifting said main valve from the. second position to the first position, said main valve when in the first position connecting the main cylinder to exhaust and admitting supply pressure to the timing valve pressure chamber to maintain said timing valve in the first position, and when in the second position admitting supply pressure to the main cylinder and connecting the timing valve pressure chamber to exhaust through a restriction to shift the timing valve to the second position after a predetermined time, said timing valve when in the second position admitting ressure to the pressure responsive means to cause said main valve to shift back to the first position to release the pressure from the cylinder and to re-admit pressure to the timing valve pressure chamber to shift the timing valve back to the first position, and means preventing actuation of said cylinder when the timing valve chamber is not pressurized, said means causing pressure to be applied to the pressure responsive means of the main valve before pressure is applied to the cylinder.

5. In a sole press comprising a main piston for moving a pad box from a rest position to apply pressure to a shoe, an ejector piston for actuating shoe ejecting means, and means for supplying pressure to said main piston and for releasing it after a pressing cycle, the improvement comprising means responsive to the release of pressure from the main piston to admit pressure to a normally closed ejector piston actuating valve, and means responsive to downward movement of the pad box after said release or" pressure to open said ejector piston actuating valve to admit pressure to the ejector piston.

6. In a sole press comprising a main piston for moving a pad box from a rest position to apply pressure to a shoe, an ejector piston for actuating shoe ejecting means, and means for supplying pressure to said main piston and for releasing it after a pressing cycle, the improvement comprising a normally closed ejector piston valve, means responsive to the pressurization of said main piston to de-pressurize said ejector piston valve, means responsive to the de-pressurization of said main piston to pressurize said ejector piston valve, and means on said pad box for momentarily opening said ejector piston valve as it moves back to the rest position in response to the depressurization of said main piston.

7. In a sole press, a main piston for moving a pad box from a rest position to apply pressure to a shoe, an ejector piston for actuating shoe ejecting means, main valve means controlling fluid pressure to the main piston and to the ejector piston, and an ejector piston valve interposed between the main valve and the ejector piston, said main valve having one position in which pressure is admitted to said main piston and said ejector piston valve is connected to exhaust, and a second position in which said main piston is connected to exhaust and pressure is admitted to said ejector piston valve, and mews respon sive to downward movement of said pad box when the main valve is shifted to said second position to shift momentarily said ejector piston valve to admit pressure to the ejector piston.

8. In a fluid operated press, comprising a main piston for moving a ram from a rest position to a pressing position, a main valve means movable from a first position to a second position to apply pressure to said main piston, and means for effecting the release of pressure from the main piston after a predetermined time, said means including a timing valve movable from a first position to a second position and a timing pressure chamber connected to a timing valve actuator to maintain said timing valve in the first position when the timing chamber is pressurized, the improvement comprising a pressure responsive actuator on said main valve adapted when pressurized to move said valve from the first position to the second position, a pilot pressure circuit and means for applying pressure thereto, said pilot circuit including said pressure responsive actuator and said timing valve, means responsive to a predetermined pressure drop in the timing pressure chamber to cause said timing valve to shift to the second position to which the pilot circuit is connected to exhaust, whereby pressure is released from the pressure responsive actuator permitting the main valve to return to the first position and release the pressure from the main cylinder.

9. A press as set out in claim 8 in which said timing valve has a second pressure responsive actuator connected to the pilot pressure circuit, whereby the pressure therein shifts said timing valve to the second position after a predetermined pressure drop in the timing pressure chamber.

10. A press as set out in claim 9 in which means is provided responsive to the return of the main valve to the first position to pressurize said timing pressure chamber and return the timing valve to the first position.

11. A sole press for applying pressure to the sole of a shoe on a last, comprising abutments, a pad box, a main fluid operated piston for moving the pad box toward and awayfrom the abutments to apply pressure to the sole and releasethe pressure, after a predetermined time, a shoe ejecting arm normally biased away from an ejecting position and movable over the pad box to eject a shoe therefrom, a fluid operatedejecting piston for actuating the ejecting arm, means actuated upon release of pressure from the shoe toaetivate said ejecting arm, and means preventing actuation of said eje ting arm until pressure has been released from the shoe.

RefereneesCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES r PATENTS 2,338,764 1/44 art 1233 2,694,818 11/54 Cantley 12 3s 2,789,293 4/57 Maeser 1243 2,861,282 11/58 Small "E1246 2,866,987 1/5-9 Smith etal. 1236 2,908,921 10/59 Kant s 12-1 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD V. 'BENHA-M, Examiner. 5 

1. IN A SOLE PRESS, A MAIN PISTON FOR MOVING A PAD BOX FROM A REST POSITION TO APPLY PRESSURE TO A SHOE, AN EJECTOR PISTON FOR ACTUATING SHOE EJECTING MEANS, OPERATORCONTROLLED MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE MAIN PISTON, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO ACTUATION OF THE MAIN PISTON TO OPEN VALVE MEANS TO THE EJECTING PISTON, MEANS FOR THEREAFTER RELEASING THE PRESSURE FROM THE MAIN PISTON, MEANS ACTUATED UPON RELEASE OF PRESSURE FROM THE MAIN PISTON TO APPLY PRESSURE THROUGH THE VALVE MEANS TO ACTUATE SAID EJECTING PISTON, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE RETURN OF THE PAD BOX TO THE REST POSITION TO CLOSE SAID VALVE MEANS. 